Opioids

On the frontlines, protecting Arizonans

There are few families in our state and across our country that haven’t been touched in some way by the opioid epidemic and fentanyl crisis – with more experiencing the horrors of these drugs daily.

More than FIVE people die of an overdose every day
-Arizona Department of Health Services, 2022

Compensating for the opioid epidemic

After years of litigation, U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and pharmacy chains have been held accountable for their role in contributing to the opioid epidemic. The pharmaceutical industry will pay more than $1.14 billion to Arizona over the next 18 years for opioid treatment, prevention and education. The state, counties, cities and towns will distribute funding for remediation of the deadly abuse of prescription painkillers perpetuated by these companies.

About the opioid settlement funds

One Arizona Agreement

The State of Arizona and its counties, cities and towns agreed upon a framework to distribute the settlement funds across the state and into communities. The One Arizona Agreement sends 56 percent of the opioid settlement funds to the counties, cities and towns and 44 percent to the State.

The allocation for each of the 15 counties and 91 cities and towns is based on population as well as the relative degree of harm suffered by each community as a result of the opioids crisis. Each local government controls how the settlement funds are spent and report the expenditures annually.

Region Distribution Dashboard
State Distribution Dashboard

Teva Naloxone Program Option

As part of the Teva Settlement Agreement, the State of Arizona opted to receive from Teva Pharmaceuticals 27,700 units of naloxone per year for up to ten years. Each unit contains two doses of nasal naloxone. The AGO must renew Arizona’s option every two years. The AGO can submit up to 4 purchase orders per year with each purchase order naming up to 5 locations for delivery. Each location must be vetted for storage capacity and be under the ADHS medical director’s license until the naloxone being shipped is the Over-The-Counter formulation. At present, the naloxone is the prescription variety.

Our first purchase order was approved by AG Mayes and submitted in December 2023. Teva made delivery on May 23, 2024 to each of the five recipients. The AGO will issue surveys to the recipients so that they can report how the product was used and how many lives were saved. We expect to post the results on this dashboard at the end of the first 12 months.

Below are the first five recipients:

Gila County Health Department - 700 units
5515 S. Apache Ave, Suite 100
Globe, AZ 85501
928-200-6100
Kayle Lathrop - [email protected]

Mohave County Health Department – 1200 units
700 W Beale Street
Kingman, AZ 86402
928-758-0722 Ext 2095
Celina Lagpacan - [email protected]

Navajo County Health Department - 1200 units
600 N 9th Pl
Show Low, AZ 85901
928-358-6778
Amy Stradling - [email protected]

Pima County Health Department – 3000 units
350 S. Toole Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-724-7470
Monica Tun - [email protected]

Yuma County Health Department – 900 units
2200 W 28th Street
Yuma, AZ 85364
928-750-7931
Ryan Butcher - [email protected]

The second purchase order was approved by the AG and submitted in May 2024. We anticipate delivery in August 2024.

Below are the second five recipients:

Maricopa County Department of Public Health - 1,600 units
4041 N Central Ave, Suite #1400
Phoenix, AZ 85012
602-339-3964
Carmen Batista - [email protected]

Cochise County Health & Social Services - 1,200 units
1415 Melody Ln, Bldg A
Bisbee, AZ 85603
520-432-9471
Kendra Allen - [email protected]

Pinal County Public Health Services District - 1,200 units
971 N Jason Lopez Circle Bldg D
Florence, AZ 85132
520-858-5579
Cori Wilson - [email protected]

Yavapai County Community Health Services – 1,000 units
1090 Commerce Dr
Prescott, AZ 86301
928-442-5482
Janet Billiet - [email protected]

AZ HIDTA c/o AZ Poison Control Center – 2,000 units
1111 E McDowell Rd, Bldg A, 2nd Fl
Phoenix, AZ 85006
602-839-6690
Daniel E. Brooks MD, Medical Director - [email protected]

AZ Poison Control Center to store allocation for AZ HIDTA. AZ HIDTA must share this allocation as follows:

La Paz County Health Department = 300 units – Stephanie McDowell at [email protected]
Andre House = 400 units – Sue Edmonds at [email protected]
Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) = 100 units – Janet Diodato at [email protected]
Sonoran Prevention Works (SPW) = 600 units – Karen Broman at [email protected]
Discretion of AZ HIDTA = 600 units – Randy Moffitt at [email protected]

County health departments in Arizona use Dr. Lisa Villarroel's medical license to receive naloxone. Under A.R.S. § 36-192 county health departments are allowed to distribute naloxone.

Effect of the Opioid Epidemic in Arizona

In 2022, more than five people a day died of an opioid overdose. Another nine people a day suffered non-fatal opioid overdose events. Some 21,300 emergency and inpatient visits involved suspected drug overdoses. Even more troubling is the rapid increase in the numbers of newborns born already suffering the effects of drug withdrawal due to exposure in utero. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is educating Arizonans on fentanyl and opioid treatment and prevention, the signs of an overdose and how to use the life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone.

Community Outreach Materials

Attorney General Actions Addressing the Opioids Crisis

Attorney General Kris Mayes is taking an all-of-the-above approach to help Arizonans recover from the fallout of the opioid crisis. The cross-functional team is attacking the issue from stopping fentanyl coming across the border to deep-rooted community needs.